BENTONVILLE -- A Rogers man with an interest in Northwest Arkansas history staged a one-man demonstration Thursday aiming to bring attention to the old Post Office building and generating support for its preservation.
Randy McCrory organized the gathering with some encouragement but no promises of support, he said as he took a post on the northeast corner of the square in Bentonville. Cindy Acree of Bentonville stopped to talk and then offered to help hold signs and talk to passing motorists. A few pedestrians asked questions and many motorists offered nods and "thumbs up' gestures.
What’s Next
Benton County’s justices of the peace are expected to finalized the decision to build a courts facility downtown when the Quorum Court meets at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Quorum Courtroom of the County Administration Building, 215 E. Central Ave. in Bentonville.
A handful stopped traffic briefly to ask for more information. Others stared straight ahead and drove on.
"My goal is to have that building preserved," McCrory said. "It was built in 1935 so it's got a lot of history associated with it."
The county is working on plans for a courts facility. The justices of the peace and county judge have endorsed a location on Northeast Second Street but no decision has been made about whether to save the old Post Office building, which now houses Circuit Judge Brad Karren's court.
Acree said the building is one of a handful of buildings remaining giving Bentonville some of the "small town" flavor of its past.
"There's a lot of history here and a lot of people who appreciate how the community has always pulled together to preserve our heritage."
Acree said she hopes the county will consider every alternative available that will leave the building intact.
"I know there are options," she said. "I don't have a problem with with them building the new courts building downtown. But I would hate to see us forfeit the Post Office if we can avoid it."
Allen Beck, a Bentonville native, stopped to talk with McCrory and said he supported saving the building. Beck said his father, Lewis "Sad" Beck, went to work for the Postal Service when he returned home to Bentonville after World War II and retired as postmaster after more than 30 years. He said he and others have memories associated with the Post Office and other older buildings that are important.
"We're all for progress," he said. "But there's not too many unique buildings like this one left.
McCrory said he was also active in the campaign that resulted in the Louise Thaden house on Central Avenue in Bentonville being saved from demolition and moved. McCrory said he has been interested in local history for many years and he hopes to generate enough public interest to influence county officials when they decide whether to retain and use the old Post Office or to demolish it as part of the plans for a new facility.
Susan Anglin, justice of the peace for District 9, has voted in favor of the downtown location but also spoken out in favor of preserving the old Post Office. She said the future of the old building is something the Quorum Court needs to weigh carefully.
"I'm supportive of downtown," she said. "I just haven't come to grips with the idea they're going to bulldoze down the old Post Office."
County Judge Barry Moehring said no decision has been made on the future of the old Post Office. He said he welcomes any input from the community on the issue.
McCrory and Acree both said they hope to grow the campaign to save the old Post Office and said they will return to the site. McCrory said the growth of Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas increases the frequency with which older structures are threatened.
"The landscape of Bentonville is changing so dramatically," he said.
Glenn Jones, c̶h̶a̶i̶r̶m̶a̶n̶ former commissioner* of the Benton County Historical Preservation Commission, agreed the old Post Office building should be saved, but Jones said he's not optimistic about it.
"If that was a broken-down old building that would be one thing," Jones said. "I inspected that building myself and it's in great shape. It was built in 1935 and there's a lot of history associated with it. It was the post office. It was the weather service office at one time."
Jones said he's concerned the county's decision will be made strictly on cost and preserving the old building won't fit the profile of a new courts building.
"I'm afraid it's going to be a 'dollars and cents,' and 'We're going to put something new in there.' kind of decision," Jones said.
NW News on 03/24/2017
*CORRECTION: Glenn Jones is a former Benton County historical preservation commissioner. In a previous version of this article, his role with the commission was incorrect.